the vest

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Vests are just the best. I love not having to make sleeves! Pattern: I didn't have one.Yarn: Classic Elite Skye tweed. 2 balls main color, 3 balls of contrasting colors.Needles: Size 7For: Libby, age 9. Notes: Really, anyone can make this. I got the gauge off of Charlie's sweater (same yarn). Decided how big I wanted it. Cast on with contrasting color, changed to main color, joined, and did a 2x1 rib for 3 inches.I knit in the round until the underarms. Then following my "drawn pattern", decreased for the armholes and neck. After sewing the shoulder seams, I picked up around the arm and neck and did the same 2x1 rib, finishing by binding off in the contrasting color.

As far as the fair isle designs, anything goes. The thing is, you have to make sure that the design fits into the number of stitches you have. I used graph paper and drew different designs making sure the repeat was divisible by the number of stitches I had. Just a striped vest would be great too. That would require a lot less figuring.

[I now fully understand the comment you left me a while ago - about how you don't want to hear the word wrestling associated with knitting on my blog. I understood it then, but totally appreciate it now.]

Wow, I think you are the best!! It's just lovely - the colours, patterns and I love that it's a vest. I actually get the whole 'make it up as you go along'. It's how I approach my sewing most times and you can make some great discoveries and fit things exactly how you want them! You really should write knitting patterns though - there is definitely a waiting market for them!!

It's so nice how you said "really anyone could make this." I am officially NOT really anyone!! It is so beautiful and your description sounds effortless and a little bit like a foreign language to me (I guess because I have only been knitting about 6 months, right??).

Ok, you just blew my mind. I love it! I am sa sucker for the little details like how you trimmed it with the grey yarn. Dang, I guess I lost out on the zucchini bread bet: She looks simple stunning in the whole outfit!

I've been wanting a vest like that, but wasn't sure about decreasing for the armholes and have been looking for a pattern that does exactly what I want. And you just go and draw the pattern on a paper bag and measure as you go. That's brilliant. You've totally inspired me!

Oh my, I think you are a genius, no pattern would terrify me. It is really beautiful, she looks so very stylish and you have put the colours together so well. You should really write up the pattern, hint, hint.... I would love to make one.